Chinese eight-ball

Clear all your balls (solids 1–7 or stripes 9–15), then legally pot the black 8 in the called pocket.

Loss — if the 8 goes early, with a foul, in the wrong pocket, or on three consecutive fouls without hitting your own (per league regulations).

• Match — to N wins; format set by organizer on billiard.guru.
• Table is "open" until a group is determined.

• 15 balls — triangle on foot spot; cue ball — in kitchen behind head string.
• Black 8 stays on table until the final stage.
• First break — by lot; in following frames — alternation.

Break only from head string — cue ball fully behind the line. Hard hit on the rack; requirements stricter than classic eight-ball.

• Typical: minimum 4 balls must touch cushion or at least one ball — in a pocket.
• Illegal break — penalty: opponent plays ball in hand or asks for re-break.
• Cue ball in pocket on break — foul; opponent spots cue ball per regulations.
• 8 potted on break — spot on foot spot or re-break.

• Group determined by first legally potted ball (except the 8).
• If both types count — player chooses solids or stripes.
• Table stays open until a legal pot.
• Accidental opponent ball in pocket — per regulations: foul or turn passes.

• Hit only your balls; "legal shot" — first contact your ball, then ball to cushion or in pocket.
• Call pocket — often mandatory on every legal pot; 8 called separately.
• Run continues until miss or foul.
• Safety play — leave opponent a hard position without an obvious foul.

• 8 may be hit only after legally clearing all your balls.
• Call pocket before the shot; wrong pocket or foul — loss.
• 8 in pocket with cue ball on foul — loss.
• Tied match — "golden break" or replay per regulations.

• After foul — ball in hand to opponent (where you may place — per league).
• Three consecutive fouls without hitting your own — loss of frame (per professional league regulations).
• Miss, cue ball in pocket, ball off table, double hit, push shot.
• Hitting opponent's ball or early shot on 8 — foul or loss.

• Stricter break: more balls to cushion or legal pot required.
• Call pocket often mandatory for the whole visit, not only on the 8.
• Three consecutive fouls — typical tournament loss; rarer in club pool.
• 9 ft table — league standard; tactics closer to positional than bar 8 ft.